Headband for active wear

ABSTRACT

A wig clip secures a headwear to a user. It has a quadrilateral frame, a comb formed on the quadrilateral frame and a sheet of flexible material attached to the quadrilateral frame. The quadrilateral frame has a first and second pairs of opposing sides, with ends of the second pair being attached to ends of the first pair sides to form the quadrilateral shape. The comb is formed along a first side of the first pair, such that it extends towards and beyond a second side of the first pair. The quadrilateral frame is of a resilient spring material that flexes between an open position, where the comb is spaced apart from the second side, to a closed position, where the comb lies against the second side. The sheet of flexible material has a width dimension joined to at least second pair of opposing sides of the quadrilateral frame and a length dimension that is longer then the width dimension.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional of U.S. provisional patentapplication 62/536,171, filed on 24 Jul. 2017, to which a priority claimis made. The provisional application is incorporated by reference as iffully recited herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed embodiments relate to a headband for use in keeping thehair off of the forehead and face, especially when engaging in anactivity, such as exercise, sports or the like. The headband isdistinguished by at least one modified wig or toupe clip that isremovably installed on a surface of the headband adjacent to the hair ofa wearer for securing the headband in place.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

When athletes with long hair engage in active sports, it is oftennecessary and almost always desirable to keep the athlete's hair pulledback away from the face, so as to not obstruct vision. A variety ofheadband types and materials are known, but it is especially common touse a fabric headband, especially one that incorporates an expandablefiber such as the polyester-polyurethane co-polymer fiber genericallyreferred to as “Spandex” or “Elastane.” Fabrics such as this are oftenpreferred over rigid, injection-molded plastic headbands for severalreasons. These include comfort and the ability to wick up perspiration.The rigid plastic headbands necessarily exert pressure against the skullof the wearer, especially in the region of the temporal bones, that is,the side of the skull generally above and behind the ear. The elasticityof the fabric effectively reduces or eliminates this pressure againstthe skull. However, these advantages of the flexible fabric headbandmean that it is not secured in place as well as the rigid headband.

Although these advantages of the fabric headband are most notablyappreciated in the sports and active wear situations, the fabricheadband also is an attractive accessory in everyday wear, making it apopular choice.

It is therefore an unmet advantage of the prior art to provide a fabricheadband that retains the primary advantages of securing the hair awayfrom the face, but in a manner that does not exert uncomfortablepressure against the skull and especially the temporal bones also to butis also more securely fixed in place during use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This and other advantages of the present invention are achieved by a wigclip for securing an item of headwear to a user. Such a wig clip has aquadrilateral frame, a comb formed on the quadrilateral frame and asheet of flexible material attached to the quadrilateral frame. Thequadrilateral frame has a first and a second pair of opposing sides. Theends of the second pair of opposing sides are attached to the ends ofthe first pair of opposing sides to form the quadrilateral shape. Thecomb is formed along a first side of the first pair of opposing sides,such that the comb extends towards and beyond a second side of the firstpair of opposing sides. The quadrilateral frame is formed from aresilient spring material such that the frame flexes between a first oropen position, in which the comb is spaced apart from the second side ofthe first pair of opposing sides, to a second or closed position inwhich the comb lies against the second side of the first pair ofopposing sides. The sheet of flexible material, has a width dimensionthat is joined to at least the two sides of the second pair of opposingsides of the quadrilateral frame and a length dimension that is longerthen the width dimension.

The comb comprises a plurality of tines, comprising a flexible material.In some of these embodiments, the tines comprise the same flexiblematerial as the quadrilateral frame.

In some embodiments, the quadrilateral frame is formed from a springmetal and the sheet of flexible material is a spring metal or a flexibleplastic.

In the preferred embodiments, the sheet of flexible material has alength that is about twice the width.

Other aspects of the invention are achieved by an item of headwearcomprising a headband adapted to be worn around the head of a user,comprising an elongate slit in the nature of a buttonhole and a wig clipas described above, wherein the sheet of flexible material secures thewig clip in the elongate slit.

In many of these embodiments, the headband is a toroidal band of astretch fabric and the elongate slit is positioned on a surface facingthe wearer.

In some embodiments, the headband has a pair of spaced apart elongateslits in adjacent relationship, positioned on a surface of facing thewearer, with a corresponding wig clip for each elongate slit.

In some embodiments, the headband has at least one additional elongateslit, positioned diametrically across from the elongate slit and on thesame surface thereof.

To achieve some aspects of the invention, a method for securing an itemof headwear to the hair of a user is accomplished by:

providing a toroidal headband of a stretch fabric, the headband havingan elongate slit in the nature of a buttonhole on a surface thereof;

securing a wig clip as described above into the elongate slit byinserting the sheet of flexible material into the elongate slot;

placing the toroidal headband around the head of the user with the wigclip in the open position, such that the comb faces toward the crown ofthe head of the user; and

engaging the hair of the user into the comb and causing the wig clip tomove to the closed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the disclosed embodiments will be obtainedfrom a reading of the following detailed description and theaccompanying drawings wherein identical reference characters refer toidentical parts and in which:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a wig or toupe clip as known in theprior art, with the clip in an “open” position;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the clip of FIG. 1A, with the clip in a“closed” position for capturing hairs of a user;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a wig or toupe clip, modified accordingto the present invention and positioned above an opening in a headbandfor insertion therein;

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view of a toroidal headband, with a modifiedwig or toupe clip of the present invention inserted in the open positionto be placed on the head of a user;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first embodiment combination of themodified wig or toupe clip of FIG. 3 with a headband;

FIG. 5A is a plan view of a second embodiment combination of the FIG. 3modified wig or toupe clip with a headband; and

FIG. 5B is a plan view of a third embodiment combination of the FIG. 3modified wig or toupe clip with a headband.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1A and 1B show a commercially-available wig or toupe clip 10 asknown in the prior art, before the clip is modified for use in thepresent invention. As seen here, the clip 10 is typically made of aspring material, preferably a spring metal, but it can be a springplastic. Described generally, the clip 10 has a quadrilateral frame 14with a plurality of holes 12 in three of the sides on the frame. Asdepicted, two of the sides 15 are arranged parallel to each other, andare shorter than the remaining two sides 16, 19. Of these latter twosides, side 16 is a front member of the clip 10 and is preferably coatedat least partially with a rubbery material. Side 19 operates as a rearmember of the clip 10 and has a plurality of parallel tines 17 which,together, operate as a comb 18. Of these sides, the holes 12 wouldnormally be arranged only on sides 15, 19. The spring nature of thematerial used in the clip allows the sides, especially sides 16, 19 toflex from an open position shown in FIG. 1A to a closed position shownin FIG. 1B. When in the open position, and with the comb positionedadjacent to the scalp of a user, the hair of a user can pass between thetines 17 and under side 16, which is away from the scalp. As the clip 10is flexed into the closed position, by pressure against the sides 15,the hairs 22 (as seen in FIG. 1B) are releasably captured between thecomb 18 and the side 16. When present, the rubbery material increasesthe friction available to retain the strands of hair. While mostembodiments will have sides 15 joined to side 19 at a right angle, insome embodiments, one of the sides 15 will be longer than the other side16, so that one side 15 joins side 16 at an acute angle and the otherside 15 joins side 16 at an obtuse angle. The result of this is thatsides 16, 19 are not parallel. This arrangement may be useful in theflexing motion of the clip 10.

A typical clip 10 of this type has a width (from outside of one side 15to the outside of the other side 15) that is in the range of about 1 to1.5 inches and a length (from outside of side 19 to the end of tines 17)that is about one-half of the width.

As shown in perspective view in FIG. 2, a modified clip 110 is providedby starting with the known clip body 10 of FIGS. 1A and 1B and affixinga flexible sheet 20 to the quadrilateral frame 14, especially alongsides 15 and 19. In doing this, holes 12 may be useful in securing theflexible sheet to the clip body 10. In an embodiment that is expected tobe preferred, the flexible sheet 20 will be generally rectangular, witha width to span the width of the clip body 10 to which it is to beattached and a length that is at least about twice the length of theclip. Preferably, the excess length (beyond the length of the clip body10) of the flexible sheet 20 is approximately equally provided at eachend.

In providing the headband 40 for the invention, a fabric headband ispreferred. The basic headband 40 can be of several types that are knownin the prior art, before the modifications needed to make it a part ofthe present invention. In one type, the headband 40 is a length of wovencloth, especially one that can be folded on itself lengthwise, with themiddle portion of the cloth passing across the front of the hairline onthe scalp and the two ends tied to each other at the lower rear portionof the skull, probably along the occipital portion. In such a situation,the headband would usually be worn with the lengthwise fold towards thefront of the head. In a second type, the headband is a continuoustoroidal band of material, preferably a knitted stretch fabric, such asa Spandex-type material. In many of these embodiments, the band is atube of the material, with the ends connected to each other to make theband continuous. An example of such a toroidal headband 40 is seen infront sectional view in FIG. 3.

In any of the headbands 40 that are used for this invention, thereshould be at least one slit 42, in the nature of a buttonhole, formed ona surface 44 of the headband that will be adjacent to the scalp near thefrontal portion of the skull. The headband 40 will also have an oppositesurface 46 that is away from the scalp. More preferably, there are twoor more such slits 42, positioned so that the slits are provided inpairs that are spaced apart from each other so that the slits can bearranged to be atop a portion skull near the temple area when theheadband is worn. In any case, the slits 42 should be arranged to runparallel to the lengthwise dimension of the headband 40. Each slitshould have a length approximately equal to the width of a modified clip110.

To complete assembly of the headband of the invention, at least one, butpreferably two or more modified clips 110 are selected, as is a headbandthat has been modified with the slits 42. Using the flexibility of theflexible sheet 20, the modified clips are inserted into selected slits42, preferably such that sides 16 of the selected modified clips 110 arefacing in the same direction with the tines 17 of the comb 18 extendingessentially perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the headband.This insertion of the modified clip 110 into the slit 42 is shown inFIG. 3.

From this point, and with the clip 110 in the open position, theheadband is placed on the head and arranged into the desired position.At this time, the clips 110 can be moved to engage the wearer's hair andmanually moved from the open to the closed position, securing theheadband. This arrangement is depicted in perspective view in FIG. 4.

The exact number and position of the clips used will be to the wearer'spreference and may be adjusted, based upon the type of the activity. Asan example, in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a headband 40 is shown bottom plan view,exposing bottom surface 44, in two different arrangements 140, 240 witha total of three modified clips 110 in each arrangement. In botharrangements, two clips 110A are placed in a pair of adjacent slits 42to secure the headband to the hair laterally away from a centerline ofthe user's scalp. A third modified clip 110B is provided in a slit 42that is approximately diametrically opposite the first two clips, sothat the third clip can be used to secure the headband to the user'shair that overlies the occipital bone at the lower rear portion of theskull.

FIGS. 5A and 5B differ in how the clips 110 are disposed into the slits42 provided on the headband. To orient the viewer, headband 40 has anouter circumference 47 and an inner circumference 48, with the user'shead being inserted into inner circumference, making the outercircumference the front edge of the headband as seen in FIG. 4. In botharrangement 140 and 240, the clips 110A are inserted in the slits 42 sothat the tines of comb 18 are rearwardly directed. In arrangement 140,the occipital clip 110B is placed in the slit 42 so that the tines ofthe comb 18 are upwardly directed, that is, they are directed towardsthe crown of the skull of the user. In arrangement 240, the occipitalclip 110B is placed in the slit 42 so that the tines of the comb 18 aredownwardly directed, that is, they are directed towards the nape of theneck of the user.

Two advantages of the product arise from the easy of arranging the clips110 in the headband. As described immediately above, the clips can bearranged and oriented to the user's preference. At least as importantly,the clips may be removed so the headband can be laundered without theclips in place.

As noted in FIG. 4, the exposed surface 46 of the headband 40 is anideal location for placement of trademarks and logos, either of amanufacturer or of a sports team or commercial sponsor.

Having shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention,those skilled in the art will realize that many variations andmodifications may be made to affect the described invention and still bewithin the scope of the claimed invention. Thus, many of the elementsindicated above may be altered or replaced by different elements whichwill provide the same result and fall within the spirit of the claimedinvention. It is the intention, therefore, to limit the invention onlyas indicated by the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wig clip for securing an item of headwear to auser, comprising: a quadrilateral frame having a first and a second pairof opposing sides, with the end of the second pair of opposing sidesattached to the ends of the first pair of opposing sides to form thequadrilateral frame; a comb, formed along a first side of the first pairof opposing sides, such that the comb extends towards and beyond asecond side of the first pair of opposing sides; the quadrilateral framebeing formed from a resilient spring material such that the frame flexesbetween a first or open position, in which the comb is spaced apart fromthe second side of the first pair of opposing sides, to a second orclosed position in which the comb lies against the second side of thefirst pair of opposing sides; and a sheet of flexible material, having awidth dimension that is joined to at least the two sides of the secondpair of opposing sides of the quadrilateral frame and a length dimensionthat is longer then the width dimension.
 2. The wig clip of claim 1,wherein the comb comprises a plurality of tines, comprising a flexiblematerial.
 3. The wig clip of claim 2, wherein the tines comprise thesame flexible material as the quadrilateral frame.
 4. The wig clip ofclaim 1, wherein the quadrilateral frame is formed from a spring metal.5. The wig clip of claim 4, wherein the sheet of flexible material is aflexible plastic.
 6. The wig clip of claim 4, wherein the sheet offlexible material is a spring metal.
 7. The wig clip of claim 1,wherein: the sheet of flexible material has a length that is about twicethe width.
 8. An item of headwear comprising: a headband adapted to beworn around the head of a user, comprising an elongate slit in thenature of a buttonhole; and a wig clip according to claim 1, removablyinserted in the elongate slit.
 9. The item of headwear of claim 8,wherein: the headband is a toroidal band of a stretch fabric and theelongate slit is positioned on a surface facing the wearer.
 10. The itemof headwear of claim 9, wherein: the headband has a pair of spaced apartelongate slits in adjacent relationship, positioned on a surface offacing the wearer, with a corresponding wig clip for each elongate slit.11. The item of headwear of claim 9, wherein: the headband has at leastone additional elongate slit, positioned diametrically across from theelongate slit and on the same surface thereof.
 12. A method of securingan item of headwear to the hair of a user, comprising the steps of:providing a toroidal headband of a stretch fabric, the headband havingan elongate slot in the nature of a buttonhole on a surface thereof;securing a wig clip according to claim 1 into the elongate slot byinserting the sheet of flexible material into the elongate slot; placingthe toroidal headband around the head of the user with the wig clip inthe open position, such that the comb faces toward the crown of the headof the user; and engaging the hair of the user into the comb and causingthe wig clip to move to the closed position.